Emergency electric-lighting arrangement for theaters and similar buildings.



PATENTED JAN. 9, 1906.

I. BRAND. EMERGENCY ELECTRIC LIGHTING ARRANGEMENT POE THEATERS AND SIMILAR BUILDINGS.

APPLICATION TILED MAILZI. 1905.

:IE'D

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRITZ BRAND, OF BERLIN, GERMANY.

EMERGENCY ELECTRIC-LIGHTING ARRANGEMENT FOR THEATERS AND SIMILAR BUILDINGS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 9, 1906.

Application filed March 21, 1905. Serial No. 251,287.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRITZ BRAND, a subject of the German Emperor, and a resident of Berlin, in the Empire of Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in and Relating to Electric Lighting Arrangements for use in Emergency in Theaters and Similar Buildings, of which the following is a specification.

The lighting for emergency in theaters, buildings with large meetingrooms, concerthalls, hotels, and similar buildings has been effected up till now by wax candles or oillamps, according to the regulations of the authorities. Such emergency-light, however, lasts only so long as there is a sullicient supply of oxygen, so that for want of oxygen the light is extinguished or the lighting power becomes so low that the lamps no longer fulfil their purpose, while the lights are ex tinguished by the gathering of smoke and noxious gases and by the pressure of explosions. Such emergency-lighting, as many cases have shown, has failed where it should have assisted the escape of people from a dangerous situation. Electric emergency-lamps with transportable accumulators possess such a low lighting power that they have no effect and cannot be seen in smoke or fumes. Lamps which are connected with the main lighting-wires cannot be effectual as emergency-lamps, inasmuch as the general supply at greater or less distances, as well as the wires leading to the lamps, are frequently cut off, and all the lamps are then extinguished.

The present invention relates to an arrangement for electric emergency-lighting of buildings, which is provided in such manner that all the above-mentioned defects are removed, and even by total destruction, such as the falling down of the galleries or floors, only the lamp groups so disturbed are extinguished, while the other lamps remain intact and continue the lighting with a power that is effective in the thickest smoke.

The arrangement consists in the provision of emergency-lamps or lamp groups which are placed one above the other in the respective galleries or floors by leads vertically arranged in the building and which are independent of the respective leads of the other lamp groups. The sources of electricity for the single wires are situated in the cellars as nearly as possible directly underneath those lamp groups supplied by them. They are protected by the cellar-walls, as well as by direct fireproof covers, against any sort of destructionfor example, water. The rising wires are placed in the walls practically and absolutely safe, so that their destruction is im ossible as long as the walls remain standing.

The double lamps have the objcet, as will be understood, that a second reserve lamp may be provided for lighting in case of the failure of the other lamps.

In the annexed drawing diagrammatic illustration is given of the arrangement provided according to the invention of a theater having the pit P and the galleries 1 to IV. The accumulators A are placed in the cellars K and from the accumulators the single vertical wires B are laid, to which in every single gallery the lamps c are connected.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An electric emergency-lighting system for buildings, consisting of several sources of energy located in the basement of a building, a plurality of circuits extending therefrom from floor to floor throughout the building, said circuits being removed from and being independent of each other throughout their length, and lamps connected in said circuits in the respective stages or floors of the build ing, substantially as described.

2. An electric emergency-lighting system for buildings, consisting of several sources of energy located in the basement of a building, a plurality of circuits extending therefrom in vertical lines from floor to floor throughout the building, said vertical circuits being re moved from and being independent of each other throughout their vertical length, and lamps connected in said circuits in the respective stages or floors of the building, substantially as described.

3. An electric emergency-lighting system for buildings, consisting of several sources of energy located in the basement of a building, a plurality of circuits extending therefrom from floor to floor throughout the building, name to this specification in the presence of said circuits being removed from and being two subscribing Witnesses. independent of each other throughout their r T length, and double lamps connected in said FRITA BRA1\D' 5 circuitsin the respective floors of the building, In presence ofsubstantially as described. l/VOLDEMAR HAUPT,

In testimony whereof I have signed my HENRY HAsPER. 

